Bell Peppers
Citizens Science Project: Biochar
Bell Peppers Generic – Variety Unknown Capsicum annuum
These bell peppers were acquired by the CSU Research Center from a nonprofit organization and donated to Citizens for Clean Air for use in this study. They can grow up to 3.3 ft. tall and are usually grown as annuals in temperate regions. Bell peppers are believed to have originated in Central and South America.
Peppers require 200 lbs. of Nitrogen (N) per acre. (Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, 2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations:
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/commercial-veg-rec/peppers.pdf)
We are using the acre measurement because it is accessible online for commercial farmers. For home gardeners, we have made an easy-to-use conversion table that converts acres to the number of ounces your garden plot requires. If you want to find out how much N you need for your home or farm grown peppers, use the calculator below. Before you add an amendment, though, have your soil analyzed for N content. Then make up the difference, if needed, by adding an amendment, whether that is a biochar/compost mix or commercial fertilizer.
Some tips when applying common fertilizers (from A Homeowner’s Guide to Fertilizers):
A bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer contains 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphate and 10 percent potash.
To calculate the pounds of nitrogen in a 50-lb bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer, multiply 50 by 0.10. Do the same for calculating the amounts of phosphate and potash. A 50-lb bag of 10-10-10 contains a total of 15 lbs of nutrients: 5 lbs nitrogen, 5 lbs phosphate and 5 lbs potash. The remaining weight is filler, usually sand or granular limestone.
Estimate Nitrogen Needs for Your Vegetable Garden
This website takes 3 types of data inputs and converts them into an estimate of how much nitrogen-based fertilizer is needed.Input 1: Nitrogen (lb) per Acre
This calculator asks for the nitrogen needs for a crop planted in an acre because this value can often be found at the website of a county extension office or the land grant university in your state.Input 2: Length and Width of Your Plot
Input 3: Percentage of Nitrogen in your Fertilizer
Fertilizer purchased in a garden store will have a 3 number code on it. An example would be "12-3-7". This means the contents of the fertilizer package have 12 percent nitrogen, 3 percent phosphorus, and 7 percent potassium (potash). These are the three primary nutrients a plant will need. Enter the first of these numbers in the next field.